TONIGHT & Sunday Worship, and Christmas Celebrations at St. Nicholas

Published: Sat, 12/20/25

A JOY-FILLED CHRISTMAS
MESSAGE FROM FR. GABRIEL

CLICK HERE TO READ HIS MESSAGE

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Liturgical Color: Violet

SATURDAY VESPERS, December 20
5:00 PM - Ember Saturday in Advent

Lauds
Sunday, December 21, 2025
9:00 AM to 9:45 AM

Sunday Mass (St. Tikhon)
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Join in our Christmas Celebration After Mass

A SPECIAL INVITATION...

invitation to Contribute for Floral Arrangements

COMING SOON...

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MASS, VESPERS & CHURCH EVENT
SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING WEEK
December 23rd through the 27th
Christmas Celebration

Tuesday, December 23

6:00 PM - Silent Reflection, Prayer, the Holy Rosary and Confession
7:45 PM - Benediction

Wednesday, December 24

4:00 PM - Vespers, Nine Lessons and Carols
5:00 PM - Fellowship and refreshments

Thursday, December 25

9:30 AM - Christmas Mass

Friday, December 26

9:00 AM - Morning Mass

Saturday, December 27

9:00 AM - Morning Mass
11:45 AM - Oblates
4:15 to 5:00 PM - Confession
(by appointment only)
Contact Us Here
5:00 PM: Vespers

The 21st to the 27th of December A.D. 2025
Scripture Readings for the Week:

21st | FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Matins: Isaiah 52:1 - 10;
Matthew 25:1 - 13;
Vespers: 2nd Kings 6:8 -23;
John 11:1 - 16

22nd | MONDAY - ST. THOMAS

Matins:
2nd Kings 7
John 14:1 - 14;
Vespers:
Hebrews 1:1 - 2:4;
Mark 16:9 to end

PLACE HOLDE

23rd | TUESDAY

Matins:
Isaiah 2:1 - 21;
Mark 11:27 -12:12;
Vespers:
Mica 3, 5;
Revelation 22

24th | WEDNESDAY

Matins:
Isaiah 9:8 - 10:4;
Matthew 1:18 to end;
Vespers:
Micah 5:2 - 7;
Luke 1:57 to end

25th | THURSDAY

Matins:
Isaiah 9:2 - 7
Luke 2:1 - 20;
Vespers:
Isaiah 7:10 - 16;
Titus 2:11 - 3:7

26th | FRIDAY

Matins:
2nd Chronicles 24:15 - 25
Acts 6;
Vespers:
Wisdom of Solomon 4:7 - 15;
Acts 7:59 - 8:8

27th | SATURDAY

Matins:
Exodus 33:7 to end;
John 13:10 -35;
Vespers:
Isaiah 6:1 - 8;
Revelation 4

Advent Fast - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

During Advent, we prepare our hearts and bodies for the Feast of the Nativity — Christmas. Through prayer, repentance, fasting, and almsgiving, we seek to cleanse our minds, grow in faith, and turn away from worldly distractions. This holy season invites us to ready our souls with joy and hope for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Winter Ember Days Fast - December 17, 19, and 20

Ember Days -- a time set aside for prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving. With the changing of the season, you're invited to pause, reflect, and renew your faith in Christ. In the stillness of winter, let the Ember days remind us that even in the cold and quiet, the light of God's love continues to burn brightly.

🎙️ Tune in daily to The Fathers Speak, a podcast from the Orthodox West. Join Father John Fenton, as he reads selections from the Church Fathers, aligned with the Western Orthodox liturgical calendar.

Oblates* Prayer and Discipleship Sessions
(All are Welcome)

The Benedict Option:
A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation

Prepare Your Heart and Mind for Christian Living and Discipleship
The Saint Nicholas Orthodox Oblates Prayer and Study Group explores the invaluable insights and wisdom presented in the book, “The Benedict Option” by Rod Dreher.

Could this be a blueprint for building a community of...

The Benedict Option Meetings:

When: Wednesday, January 14th
- Time: 6 PM
- Where: St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
  1325 E. Queen Ave., Spokane, WA 99207
- Remote Access also available. Click Here

The Rule of Benedict:
A Spirituality for the 21st Century

The Rule, written by Benedict of Nursia, the founder of Western monasticism, guides our St. Nicholas Oblates and parish members into a new way of seeing and living. As Orthodox Christians, we are admonished to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Renewing the mind takes ...

The Rule of Benedict Meetings:

When: Saturday, December 27
(Click Here to view the online calendar)
- Time: 11:45 AM
- Where: St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
  1325 E. Queen Ave., Spokane, WA 99207

*To be an oblate is a “vocation,” a response to a call from God. It is a means of living a life of
reciprocal prayer and blessings, between a person in the world and the monastic who “left the world.”

Please Remember to Pray for...

Your Parish, Diocese, Archdiocese, Dn. Elijah and wife Evelyn, Jerri Cox, Tina Greer, Fr. David, Kh. Mona, Kh. Karen Kinnick, Barbara Myers, Gary Gillmore, Art Sill, Charlie and Alida Roth

"O Lord Almighty, the Healer of our souls and bodies, You Who put down and raise up, Who chastise and heal also; do You now, in Your great mercy, visit our brothers and sisters who are sick."

For Our New Priest

Jesus, eternal Priest, keep this thy Priest, Father Gabriel Souza, within the shelter of Thy Sacred Heart, where none may touch him. Keep unstained his anointed hands, which daily touch Thy Sacred Body; keep unsullied his lips, purpled with Thy precious Blood; keep pure and unearthly his heart, sealed with sublime marks of Thy glorious priesthood. Let Thy holy love surround him, and keep him ever spotless from the world. Bless his labours with abundant fruit, and may they to whom he has ministered be here below with joy and consolation, and in heaven his beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.

For the Increase of Priests

O Almighty God, look mercifully upon Thy Church, and incline the hearts of many of her sons to offer themselves for the work of the sacred ministry; so that by their labors, Thy Light may shine in the darkness of the world, and the coming of Thy kingdom may be hastened by the perfecting of Thine elect. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reminder

There is a list left in the Narthex for parishioners to remember those who need our on-going intercessions to God. The list is picked up after the Office by one of the Acolytes so they can be remembered. Customarily their names are mentioned in the Mass. However, remembrances and intercessions now are moved to the announcements in our Communion Service.

An Invitation to Support
Our Beloved Church and Clergy

Saint Nicholas created important reserve funds:

https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/5682736?widget=1

New Priest Reserve Fund – Each month, 25% of our net operating reserves will be set aside for our new priest.
Maintenance Reserve Fund – Each month, 25% of net operating reserves is placed into the church maintenance fund.

With your generous support, we can fund these vital expenses and continue fostering the spiritual growth and well-being of our beloved Saint Nicholas Orthodox community. All donations, no matter the amount, are a cherished blessing and deeply appreciated.

Together, we can strengthen and sustain our parish.

DONATE

OTHER NEWS, REQUESTS AND/OR RESOURCES

Holy Communion - is received by intinction only: Only duly prepared Orthodox Christians may receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. Preparation includes the pre-communion fast (see below) and confession to a priest of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. All others may receive a blessing by crossing their arms and bowing their head.

Pre-communion Fast - Unless you are under a doctor's care, all of those between 21-60 are expected to fast from drinking and eating from midnight on Saturday until after communion on Sunday. However, you can have water up until an hour before communion. If we are having a scheduled evening Mass, please eat and drink as close to noon as possible. You can have water up until about an hour before communion. There are exceptions to these rules. If you have any questions, please contact us at pastor@spokaneorthodox.org.

Confession - TBD

Scripture Readings for the Week - Please visit the English Office website for the daily offices. This site is run by the Brown family and is an excellent resource for when you want to pray the parochial daily offices and you don't have your Psalter and/or Bible handy. It renders very nicely on your phone or tablet devices.

SUGGESTED BIBLE COMMENTARIES

Several parishioners have asked for suggestions of Bible commentaries. Here is a selection of commentaries that Fr. David uses:
- The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Luke (Volume 3) Available on Amazon or from other retailers like Abe Books.
- The Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to John by Blessed Theophylact (Volume 4) Available in hardcover on Amazon or from other retailers like Abe Books.
- The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Mark (Volume 2) Available on Amazon.
- The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew (Volume 1) Available on Amazon or from other retailers like Abe Books.

Parish website (Currently under reconstruction)
St. Nicholas calendar
Archdiocese website
His Beatitude, John X Patriarch of Antioch and all the East.
His Eminence, Metropolitan Saba Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America
His Grace, Bishop JOHN
Pastor, Father Gabriel Souza
Sub-Deacon, Clyde Jackson
Reader David (Charles Roth)

BULLETIN REQUESTS
Have an idea to post in the Bulletin? Email Selina at info@spokaneorthodox.org with your topic. It could be discussed at coffee hour.
To stay connected with other parishioners, a February 2023 parish social media directory is available from the parish secretary. Email: charlesroth53@yahoo.com.

Connect With Us

St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church

1325 E Queen Ave
Spokane WA 99207
US

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